On Health: Scenic Hudson Park for WWWP5k Walk

“Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.” Thomas Jefferson

Health: Scenic Hudson Park ... view from car park

Health: Scenic Hudson Park ... plaque at main entry honoring Peter

Scenic Hudson Park ... ducks in the hudson

Scenic Hudson Park ... colorful barge

Scenic Hudson Park ... TappanZee Bridge

Automattic’s Worldwide WP 5k EventA few weeks ago, Automattic challenged their staff ( all 80 Automatticians from 62 cities ) and then us WordPress users to run/walk a 5k (3.1 miles) on the same day – April 10th. Titled the WWWP5k -Worldwide WordPress 5 kilometer event, the idea was to encourage all of us to get our health stride on. Given the fact that WordPress users are around the globe, they added a caveat, you can do your walk anytime from April 4th -10th and share your results on the final day. I designated Saturday the 9th as my complete Automattic’s Worldwide WP 5k task date and because the weather was spectacular on Saturday, I took some lovely pictures.

I was in Massachusetts on Sunday (I live in NY) with one of my college bound twins for an admitted student open house and had already pre-scheduled a post for Sunday. So, I couldn’t post my Scenic Hudson Park Saturday walk until I returned home to NY. I was planning to write the post on the 5K for Monday and only realized the deadline when I saw Meg’s post on my Smartphone. I added a little blurb on Sunday’s post, but as promised, I am sharing my photos today. I even added a link to a Google 3D view of the area above.

Health: Scenic Hudson Park ... a glimpse of the flag as we face Manhattan

On Saturday, my friend, Esme, and I took a walk/jog; at the Scenic Hudson Park/Peter Peyser Field by the Hudson River in NY. It is a beautiful park and one of many found throughout Westchester County, NY. Sure, there are beautiful parks elsewhere but I am biased. Like many others in our area, we come to the Scenic Hudson Park, also known as the Peter Peyser Field, to exercise and enjoy the beautiful views. It is brutally cold and windy in the winter time but, in spring and summer time, it is a delight to visit and exercise. Come back later for more photos! Did you do the walk?

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Mahatma Gandhi

Health: Scenic Hudson Park ...walk continues, bench on right and PAlisades & Hudson River left

Health: Scenic Hudson Park ... walk along with us

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#9

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#10

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#11

Looking southward on a clear day, you can see downtown Manhattan and sadly, before 9/11, the twin towers. Looking north, you see the Tappan Zee Bridge which is stunning at night when all lit up. The bridge separates Westchester from Rockland County. The Hudson River (west from my vantage point) separates us from the cliffs you see in the pictures known as the Palisades. East of the Park is the Metro North train station and the village.

Scenic Hudson Park ... view of young maple one of many planted trees and shrubs

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#12

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#13

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#14

Scenic Hudson Park ... view of play gym

I have included some landmarks from the park and a few other interesting factors; the ducks, the flag honoring those who lost their lives on 9/11, one of several water fountains and telescopes, the ballfield, the children’s play gym and a view of the bridge. The day we walked/slow jogged, there was a colorful barge on the river and I added that too.

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#15

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#16

Scenic Hudson Park ... walk around the park continues view#17

Scenic Hudson Park ... view of toilets near exit

Scenic Hudson Park ... view of bench by entry... the end!

According to satellite information I got, the walking path is about 0.67 of a mile long and we completed 7 laps which was 4.69 miles in the hour we spent walking; about 7.5k. K stands for kilometer, which is equivalent to 0.62 mile. Yep, we did a bit more because we were having a great time. Did you try for the 5K? Do share. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

What are your thoughts? What do you do for exercise? Do share. Thank You! 🙂

I love walking when I am out-of-town. You can appreciate so much more of a local culture instead of peering through a car window. I live in the country and walk along trails in the woods and across fields almost every day. Love the quote by Thomas Jefferson.

It looks rather cold there in one of those pictures where the 2 people are wearing coats. It’s been up to 95 degrees here in TX lately. We don’t get too much cold weather here.
I love the pictures you took there! I have been to several places in NY before and I guess the prettiest place I saw was Long Island. Loved it!
I was bummed out that I couldn’t participate in the 5k walk/run, but with these new hips I’m getting I’ll be more than ready to get going on the marathons this coming fall!
I emailed you about a guest post, hopefully it went through.

The pictures look great again! And good of you to participate in the walk! As usual, I missed the fact that this was going on so I didn’t participate. Not sure whether I would have otherwise, I’m lazy. I keep telling myself I’m gonna start running one of these days. It’s still on one of these days. Maybe I should write a post on it, then I’d feel guilty if I don’t do it 😉 Maybe…

These are beautiful. May I ask a question? My character in my WIP takes a walk around Riverside Park much as I believe you did (she lives by Columbia). Can you smell the river as you walk? I wanted to add that scent–seemed like it would be important? Can you smell the trees or other flowers?

Oh Jacqui don’t laugh but my memory of Riverside Park was not of smelling the Hudson River.Why? Because the Westside Highway separates the river from the park and what you might smell is the asphalt, car fumes, and the general wastage of human & leftover detritus in the area. The park is somewhat elevated so it is not on ground level with the highway. You can see the river at a distance and, because of the highway traffic, I would be hard-pressed to believe anyone was smelling clean, fresh, salty air from the river… I for one didn’t and I used to jog through it almost daily when I was a student at Columbia.
There are community gardens at different points in the park and I suppose one could smell flowers there. But, it is an urban park where people would walk, hang out, even barbecue in the summer. If anything, your character’s best bet is to comment on the endless activity in the park; the noise of traffic, people, kids, dogs barking, ambulance sirens and such…. it is very much an urban park and isn’t as close to the water as the Scenic Hudson Park. Hope this helped! 🙂An important distinction: Riverside Park is in Manhattan (Urban) and the Scenic Hudson Park is in Irvington in Westchester County, NY (Suburban).
Thanks for your comment and question!
Elizabeth

Congrats for making the walk. Our weather wasn’t very cooperative here. I hope to make the next one. The park looks like a great place for a walk or to read a good book. I hope you take advantage of it–lucky to live close to a park.

Congrats Elizabeth! Your health and your heart are important! Wish I could say I participated but only learned about it through your blog. I wouldn’t say I’m lazy but I do have a lot of jobs… I usually get in my exercise on my stationary bike at about 5:30 in the morning! Getting back to that regular schedule after all the surprises in the last month has been difficult but necessary! Photos are beautiful (who doesn’t love NY?) but it does look cold!

Your pictures are BEAUTIFUL Eliz! I’ve never been to Massachusetts before…makes me want to get there. 🙂 Looks like you had a most enjoyable 5k! Glad my post reminded you of it…another of my blogging friends reminded me of it on Saturday. What are friends for, right? Thanks for the pingback. Very much appreicated my dear! 😀

Thanks for the reminder Meg!
I had blanked out on the fact that there was a deadline to add the post even though I had done the walk on Saturday. By the way, the park is near my home in NY not in Massachusetts… Sorry if my comment about college visits created some confusion. I have edited my statement for clarity. 🙂
Love the blog buddy ship, it has helped me too!
Eliz